The USDA is accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year. Members make important decisions on how to administer federal farm programs locally.
Also, FSA is unveiling a new GIS tool to make it easier for producers to participate in the nomination and election processes for county members.
Postmark all nomination forms for the 2023 election by Aug. 1.
“Producers serving on FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency, and they serve as the eyes and ears for the producers who elected them,” says FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.
Elections will be in certain Local Administrative Areas for members. LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction.
Customers can locate their LAA through a new GIS locator tool: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/county-committee-elections/index
Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy if they:
— participate or cooperate in a USDA program
— reside in the LAA that is up for election this year
A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority producers, women and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office.
Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues.
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